Mcmullen's Many ... ... Moments

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Of his 209 receptions, which was the best? The one- handed, reach-back grab he made this year against South Carolina? The one-handed, leap-forward snag he made two years ago against North Carolina? The time last season when he literally took the ball away from a Tar Heel defender for a first down?

So many choices. But for Billy McMullen, the leading receiver in University of Virginia football history, the choice is as simple as it is unpredictable. It came two years ago in the Oahu Bowl, a game the Cavaliers were out of by halftime. But to the man who made it, that 18- yard catch you never saw on SportsCenter stands out above the others.

"I think it was my turning point," he said. "It was a small play, and I got hurt after it. But the whole thing was, I was relaxed and playing my game. I knew something good was about to happen for me. Then Coach (Al) Groh came in and it started from there. It was a whole different level."

After two years in the program, McMullen was a promising, though not particularly special, receiver. He had moments, like his game-winning catch in the final minute against Maryland as a true freshman. He was the Cavaliers' top receiver in 1999 and 2000, but he was the kind who had eight catches one week and two the next.

With a 6-foot-4 frame, large hands and excellent leaping ability, McMullen always had some Herman Moore characteristics. But he wanted to be more than a part-time playmaker.

"I look at my career in stages," he said. "The first year was all athleticism. The second year was a big mental year for me where I had to fight through everything. I had some drops and a lot of people questioning my speed. I wanted to prove they picked the right guy to come here."

He took care of that. In his junior season, playing for a new coach and in a different system, McMullen had 83 catches for 1,060 yards -- both school records -- and 12 touchdowns. He led the ACC in every category and became the Cavaliers' all-time leading receiver.

The question became, how could he follow it? The answer was, he couldn't. His totals after 13 games this year: 68 catches, 886 yards, three touchdowns. His receptions are the second-most in school history; his yards are fourth.

By the numbers, McMullen didn't come close to matching last year. But numbers don't tell everything, and there are factors to consider. Last year, the Cavaliers had no running presence and McMullen was the only proven receiver. This year, the ground game is respectable and more targets -- like tight end Heath Miller, who has nine touchdown catches -- have emerged.

Still, McMullen's 68 catches tied for the conference lead. He ran, caught and threw for at least one touchdown. And for the second year in a row, he was first-team All-ACC.

"The guy's such a good player that you almost say, 'Gee, he's just playing on, playing on, everything's the same,' " Groh said. "But it's not. He goes to practice every day with a real purpose, whether that's something specific to his game or something he needs to do within his game against a particular opponent."

Groh, whom you can safely call a demanding coach, rarely misses a chance to praise McMullen. Groh classifies him as one of the finest blocking receivers he's ever seen. When McMullen stumbled and bumbled his way to a 1- yard touchdown run on a reverse against Clemson, Groh credited him for keeping his cool and staying on his feet.

And when McMullen turned a certain 10-yard loss into a 37-yard scoring pass to Michael McGrew, Groh said to look no further for that one play to "capsule" his career.

"Billy's a player who, whatever the job, gets it done," Groh said.

There have been plenty of McMullen Moments. Among them:

* His 35-yard catch against Duke this season. With Virginia holding a 20-16 lead late in the fourth quarter and deep in its own territory, McMullen hauled in a throw from quarterback Matt Schaub over the middle and was creamed by a Blue Devil defender. Two plays later, the Cavaliers scored the game-clinching touchdown.

* His one-handed gem vs. South Carolina. On third-and-long, McMullen ran a simple down-and-out route. Schaub's pass was behind him, but McMullen spun, stuck out his mitt of a right hand and made the one-handed snare for a first down. "It looked more like he took it by a handle," Groh said.

* His tight-rope act against the Gamecocks. After the Cavs had taken a 32-21 lead, Schaub rolled right and looked for McMullen on a 2-point conversion pass. McMullen leaped near the corner of the end zone, made the catch and managed to get both feet inbounds, though in college, you need only one.

* His take-away at North Carolina. Schaub's pass appeared to be intercepted by a Tar Heel cornerback, but McMullen outwrestled the defender for the ball and a first down.

* His circus act against UNC two years ago. McMullen's only catch of the day was a 44-yard one-hander in which he outjumped two defenders. "Amazing," Schaub called it.